I will have his "PRO" in a week or two. If that is what I think it is I intend to order the PRO PLUS as soon as I can handle it. I like the 1911 platform and this is an extension to that art form. After I get that under my belly I need a Colt SAA in mint shape.
Resale value of custom 1911 pistols
- Thread starter Steel28
- Start date
I think the point is that Nighthawk and Wilson Combat are strictly not custom- no matter how nice they are, or whether they have 'custom' in the name.
Even if a Corvette is much nicer than a Cavalier, it still isn't a custom car just because you bought the trim package with it.
- Location
- Fort St John B.C.
I would beg to differ with you, both pistols are HAND assembeled and FIT using the highest quality parts available, you can order your pistol anyway you want to.... the fact that they do offer "off the shelf" ready to run pistols does not deter from the fact that these guns as well ARE hand fitted and built and a good quality control program is in place at both buisnesses where every pistols is built by a craftsman and test fired/inspected for fit as well as function.
myself I own 8 1911's, from a lowly ruger sr1911 to a les baer thunder ranch, the differences in tolerences, fit and function andoverall craftsmanship is amazing.... not at the macro level but at the micro level, the perfection of the checkering, the tightness of the slide to frame fit, the amazing fit of the barrel when it slams home....
to call any of the premium builders not "custom" you have to give your head a shake.
Shooter1of38
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Okay...you win.
Please enlighten me as to what makes a gun custom....oh, and please post pictures of yours as you're very well versed on these things...
ALSO, I used the Cavalier to Corvette analogy as reference only......I don't really like either...I prefer mine
waiting on your thoughts and definition of a custom, you know, hand fitting, top shelf parts, limited build quantities, etc...
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Shooter1of38
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Once again.. just because something is nice or hand made does not mean it is custom. This is a pretty basic argument that could be solved with a dictionary. It has little to do with comparative tolerances.
Nighthawks, Wilsons etc. are not built from the ground up to a customers specifications like an SVI. They are ultra high-end production guns largely made to a pattern.
I'm not debating the fact that they are extremely nice guns.
nice pictures
umm thats my definition (and webster' dictionary as well), guess yours is different
take it easy, no one is saying these guns aren't expensive (and hopefully there is quality there to justify that) BUT to compare an off the shelf WC or NHC with a real custom from say Infinity, where every gun is made to order (on customer's specifications) is just ridiculous. let me explain, Dlask produces custom pistols, however to call their PRO model a custom would be a lie since its an off the shelf model. Also I am pretty sure, every single 1911 close to or over 2K is hand fit, so don't bother with that line of thinking.
hand fitting does not a custom item make, using your analogy (since you seem to like cars) a lot of top end cars (example: pagani huayra) are hand crafted/fitted - but THEY CAN NOT BE CALLED CUSTOM based just on that - although not mass produced like say civics, 100s of the same copies are sold. by the definition of the very word, a custom item is a one off based on the customer's specifications.
i know you aren't going to like this too much but try and remember, its simply my opinion based on observation and logic presented above - you are welcome to yours
ps: I do not own 8 1911s or even 8 guns total so you definitely win there
umm thats my definition (and webster' dictionary as well), guess yours is different
take it easy, no one is saying these guns aren't expensive (and hopefully there is quality there to justify that) BUT to compare an off the shelf WC or NHC with a real custom from say Infinity, where every gun is made to order (on customer's specifications) is just ridiculous. let me explain, Dlask produces custom pistols, however to call their PRO model a custom would be a lie since its an off the shelf model. Also I am pretty sure, every single 1911 close to or over 2K is hand fit, so don't bother with that line of thinking.
hand fitting does not a custom item make, using your analogy (since you seem to like cars) a lot of top end cars (example: pagani huayra) are hand crafted/fitted - but THEY CAN NOT BE CALLED CUSTOM based just on that - although not mass produced like say civics, 100s of the same copies are sold. by the definition of the very word, a custom item is a one off based on the customer's specifications.
i know you aren't going to like this too much but try and remember, its simply my opinion based on observation and logic presented above - you are welcome to yours
ps: I do not own 8 1911s or even 8 guns total so you definitely win there
lets keep it simple - les bear, nighthawk, wilson, etc are so expensive because they use top quality parts, and everyone of those parts is hand fitted to the gun by a talented smith which takes many, many, many hours. you can sell it and recover a good chunk of the value
you can also buy a $400 norinco, spend and additional $1000+ in parts and labor by a talented smith, and you will get a great gun, it will likely perform like a high end gun - but it will still be a norinco, you wont be able to recover most of the gunsmith costs
I think someone mentioned the python vs GP100 - the ruger is mass produced, assembled, and hopefully has a function check done/test fired and leaves the factory. The python on the other hand had all parts hand fitted by a smith, which took extra time, therefore more cost
you can also buy a $400 norinco, spend and additional $1000+ in parts and labor by a talented smith, and you will get a great gun, it will likely perform like a high end gun - but it will still be a norinco, you wont be able to recover most of the gunsmith costs
I think someone mentioned the python vs GP100 - the ruger is mass produced, assembled, and hopefully has a function check done/test fired and leaves the factory. The python on the other hand had all parts hand fitted by a smith, which took extra time, therefore more cost
A custom 1911 is just like a custom car.. something that is built to customer specification. It's really that simple.
Whether I own 'custom' guns or not is irrelevant to the discussion. I don't have to be a movie director to tell you Piranhas 3DD was a bad movie.
Briefcase_Wanker
Regular
- Location
- Edmonton, AB
I have a Colt, a Springfield Armory, and Sti.... And none of them even come close to touching my NHC. If you think " custom" doesn't mean much but overpriced.... then buy a Norinco.
Shooter1of38
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Perfect, when you order an NHC, LB or WC, they build it to your spec. That's why they take 1-2 yrs or longer to get
Your first line above also completely contradicts your other post.....
"Even if a Corvette is much nicer than a Cavalier, it still isn't a custom car just because you bought the trim package with it."
umm thats my definition (and webster' dictionary as well), guess yours is different
take it easy, no one is saying these guns aren't expensive (and hopefully there is quality there to justify that) BUT to compare an off the shelf WC or NHC with a real custom from say Infinity, where every gun is made to order (on customer's specifications) is just ridiculous. let me explain, Dlask produces custom pistols, however to call their PRO model a custom would be a lie since its an off the shelf model. Also I am pretty sure, every single 1911 close to or over 2K is hand fit, so don't bother with that line of thinking.
hand fitting does not a custom item make, using your analogy (since you seem to like cars) a lot of top end cars (example: pagani huayra) are hand crafted/fitted - but THEY CAN NOT BE CALLED CUSTOM based just on that - although not mass produced like say civics, 100s of the same copies are sold. by the definition of the very word, a custom item is a one off based on the customer's specifications.
i know you aren't going to like this too much but try and remember, its simply my opinion based on observation and logic presented above - you are welcome to yours
ps: I do not own 8 1911s or even 8 guns total so you definitely win there
http://www.nighthawkcustom.com/pistols.html - those are precanned models, yes they "customize" these to the extent you can customize a car off the showroom
Note: i am NOT saying they do not build custom 1911 if you provide them complete specs but i am willing to bet 97% bought a model off that page up there with minor modifications - also known as options on the given model.
never said that, but for the same price I can buy an Infinity/SVI so I see no value in these brands...
Oh sorry, I guess I'm mincing words again. I thought it should have been clear that I meant something built (or rebuilt) from the ground up to customer specifications, not something that got built first and then had options added on later.
A chopped and channelled '49 Mercury is a custom hot rod. A Plymouth Prowler isn't a custom hot rod.
A simplification would be: is it a one-of-a-kind?
You guys are fighting over some futile details
To get back to the OP question, maybe he used the wrong wording here... NHC, wilson, brown, baer are often refered to as "Semi-custom". My understanding of the question was... "If I buy a 3500$ high-end 1911 what can I expect money wise if I ever decide to resell it."
fighting would be the wrong word, we are simply engaged in a lively discussion over the nature of said premium brands and certain misleading terminology associated with them
and yes this has gone way off topic, my apologies
that being said i think the question was answered on the first or second page of the thread. to paraphrase: "the seller's idea of perfection may not agree with the buyer's, driving the price down"
and yes this has gone way off topic, my apologies
that being said i think the question was answered on the first or second page of the thread. to paraphrase: "the seller's idea of perfection may not agree with the buyer's, driving the price down"
I'm wondering why I read this whole thread and now I'm wondering why I'm posting on this thread. For me it's as simple as this, buy em, shoot em and enjoy em. If I buy it, I shoot it and I enjoy it, I don't really care if my gun is custom, semi custom or production. I guess that being said, to get back to the original question, the more you spend, most likely the more you'll lose if you sell it again.
Shooter1of38
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Sorry men, didn't mean to take OP's topic off track...
Agreed, we are not fighting. In my opinion, any mid to high end 1911 is worth owning....and in my case NEVER selling!
However if you do sell one, expect to take somewhat of a hit in the $ department
Agreed, we are not fighting. In my opinion, any mid to high end 1911 is worth owning....and in my case NEVER selling!
However if you do sell one, expect to take somewhat of a hit in the $ department
Shooter1of38
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Thanks a lot to all of you who expressed their knowledge and opinion!
I'm going to purchase Nighthawk falcon
You will love. Contact Gary at Wanstalls. Unbelievable service and communication.
Edit! He actually has one
http://www.wanstallsonline.com/nighthawk-custom-falcon-1911-45-acp.html
However, if it not the exact way you would order one, best to order and wait for "yours"
